Requirements vary depending on how you plan to bring the vessel here.
How are you bringing your vessel to Australia?
Requirements: towed vessel
An Australian vessel being towed to Australia through international waters is considered a regulated Australian vessel (RAV).
It must comply with statutory certification requirements that apply to it under the Navigation Act 2012. If your vessel doesn’t meet these requirements now, work towards meeting them as soon as possible.
Operator of the vessel being towed: Provide us with your vessel details now so we can assist you.
Operator towing the vessel: Provide us with details of your intended voyage at least 7 days before departure. See Marine Order 31: Division 4 Notification Matters.
- (1) Registered on the Australian General Shipping Register
All Australian vessels travelling from or to a foreign port are required to be registered.
If your vessel is registered
Your vessel may already be registered on a foreign register, or on the Australian register if you bought it from an Australian owner.
To ensure your vessel is correctly registered, contact AMSA Connect.
If your vessel is not registered
- (2) In class with an AMSA-appointed recognised organisation (RO) and under the Australian flag
If your vessel is in class
Contact the vessel's RO (also known as a classification society) to ensure the certificates and any exemptions, equivalents or waivers are current under the Navigation Act 2012.
If your vessel is not in class
Contact an RO to discuss requirements.
See a list of ROs.
- (3) Compliant with asbestos requirements
Importing asbestos or asbestos containing materials is prohibited for ships entering Australian waters.
Contact Australian Border Force to ensure that the right inspection and certification measures are in place before your ship arrives.
Contact Australian Border Force.
Learn more about asbestos on ships.
- (4) Compliant with ballast water management requirements
Your vessel will be subject to biosecurity control. This means you will need to report on how you’ve actively managed biofouling before you arrive in Australian waters.
Report how you’re managing biofouling through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Maritime Arrivals Reporting System.
See also Marine Notice 11/2022—Biofouling and in-water cleaning.
- (5) Compliant with ISPS code requirements (if applicable)
If you are bringing a passenger vessel or cargo vessel of 500 gross tonnage and above to Australia, you will need to comply with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code.
See AMSA Marine notice 7/2015 - Piracy and armed robbery against ships for details.
- (6) Other requirements
There may be other requirements you need to comply with. We’ll let you know what they are when you provide us with your vessel details.
- (7) After you arrive
If your vessel won’t undertake further overseas voyages after arriving in Australia, you will need to:
- ask the RO you're in class with to revoke your vessel’s Navigation Act 2012 certificates (MARPOL pollution certificates and the International Tonnage Certificate may be retained)
- be certified as a domestic commercial vessel (DCV) under the National Law Act 2012.
Please provide your vessel details and we can advise you on the process.
Requirements: deck cargo
Note: An Australian vessel being brought to Australia as deck cargo may not need registration or certification as a regulated Australian vessel (RAV). It depends on the delivery circumstances.
Notify us: Provide us with your vessel details now so we can assist you.
- (1) Registered on the Australian General Shipping Register (if applicable)
If your vessel is registered
Your vessel may already be registered on a foreign register, or on the Australian register if you bought it from an Australian owner.
To ensure your vessel is correctly registered, contact AMSA Connect.
If your vessel is not registered
- (2) In class with an AMSA-appointed recognised organisation (RO) and under the Australian flag
If your vessel is in class
Contact the vessel's RO (also known as a classification society) to ensure the certificates and any exemptions, equivalents or waivers are current under the Navigation Act 2012.
If your vessel is not in class
Contact an RO to discuss requirements.
See a list of ROs.
- (3) Compliant with asbestos requirements
Importing asbestos or asbestos containing materials is prohibited for ships entering Australian waters.
Contact Australian Border Force to ensure that the right inspection and certification measures are in place before your ship arrives.
Contact Australian Border Force.
Find out more about asbestos on ships.
- (4) Other requirements
There may be other requirements you need to comply with. We’ll let you know what they are when you provide us with your vessel details.
Requirements: own power
An Australian vessel being brought to Australia under its own power through international waters is considered a regulated Australian vessel (RAV).
It must comply with statutory certification requirements that apply to it under the Navigation Act 2012. If your vessel doesn’t meet these requirements now, work towards meeting them as soon as possible.
Notify us: Provide us with your vessel details now so we can assist you.
- (1) Registered on the Australian General Shipping Register
If your vessel is registered
Your vessel may already be registered on a foreign register, or on the Australian register if you bought it from an Australian owner.
To ensure your vessel is correctly registered, contact AMSA Connect.
If your vessel is not registered
- (2) In class with an AMSA-appointed recognised organisation (RO) and under the Australian flag
If your vessel is in class
Contact the vessel's RO (also known as a classification society) to ensure the certificates and any exemptions, equivalents or waivers are current under the Navigation Act 2012.
If your vessel is not in class
Contact an RO to discuss requirements.
See a list of ROs.
- (3) Compliant with asbestos requirements
Importing asbestos or asbestos containing materials is prohibited for ships entering Australian waters.
Contact Australian Border Force to ensure that the right inspection and certification measures are in place before your ship arrives.
Contact Australian Border Force.
Find out more about asbestos on ships.
- (4) Compliant with ballast water management requirements
Your vessel will be subject to biosecurity control. This means you will need to report on how you’ve actively managed biofouling before you arrive in Australian waters.
Report how you’re managing biofouling through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Maritime Arrivals Reporting System.
See also Marine Notice 11/2022—Biofouling and in-water cleaning.
- (5) Compliant with minimum safe crewing requirements
Your crew will be required to hold relevant certification and qualifications. You'll also need to have a certain number of crew depending on the size of your vessel.
Apply for a minimum safe crewing document so we can assess whether your vessel will be safely crewed.
See RAV crewing for details.
- (6) Compliant with ISPS code requirements (if applicable)
If you are bringing a passenger vessel or cargo vessels of 500 gross tonnage and above to Australia, you will need to comply with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code.
See AMSA Marine notice 7/2015 - Piracy and armed robbery against ships for details.
- (7) Other requirements
There may be other requirements you need to comply with. We’ll let you know what they are when you provide us with your vessel details.
- (8) After you arrive
If your vessel won’t undertake further overseas voyages after arriving in Australia, you will need to:
- ask the RO you're in class with to withdraw your vessel’s Navigation Act 2012 certificates
- be certified as a domestic commercial vessel (DCV) under the National Law Act 2012.
Provide us with your vessel details and we can advise you on the process.